JUST ASK

TODAY: Learn and live “The Serenity Prayer” of Reinhold Neibuhr: God, Grant me the serenity to accept those things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

Shortly before Halloween 17 years ago, I realized that my social drinking had crossed the line and my efforts to cut back were woefully unsuccessful. I decided to visit my doctor and convince him that I needed a pill to control my thirst. He listened attentively to my well-rehearsed monologue: My problem was one of dependency, I insisted, not alcoholism. When I finished, he looked me in the eye and said: “You are playing with words. You need help. I'm not going to exchange one drug for another.”

So much for Plan A. He outlined the various treatment programs in our area, but they all took too much time and money. Then he mentioned AA (Alcoholic Anonymous). My first meeting was at St. Mark’s Catholic Church on Vale Road. The leader conducted a first-step meeting. There are two parts to the first step. First is to admit that you have a problem with alcohol. Second is to ask God for help.

As I sat in that room leaning forward in the straight-backed chair, my forearms on my knees and looking at the floor, I wondered what on earth I was doing there. Couldn't I just get up and leave? But I had assured the doctor I would attend the entire meeting, so finally I started to listen to what the good folks were saying.

The first part of the step was no problem. But the second part was. In all my days of going to church and facing other problems, I had never prayed for myself. For some reason, I believed it was wrong. I finally decided that I could do it once. I put my hands together and prayed: “Dear God. My drinking is a problem, and I need your help. Please. Amen.”

From that moment – some 17-plus years, now – I have never craved an alcoholic drink. Months after that first meeting, I related my experience to my doctor. He said he really didn’t know what happens in these meetings. To myself I said, I’m not really sure I can put it into words either. But I know that my life has followed a different course for 17 years, ever since I first asked God for help.

— Anonymous

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist